ethicalstrategy

OK. Can someone give me a sensible and plausible explanation of exactly how Lampard f**ked up Ballack's game yesterday? I'm not disputing that Frank was poor, but then again so was Maka and Ballack too. And so were Joe and SWP. I just keep reading that the reason Ballack was poor was because of Frank. I don't see it.

Pizarro wasn't alongside Anelka. He played up on his own and Anelka went out to the right and took Joe's place. and I voted Ashley Cole. He had an excellent game.

No. Ballack was poor ALL game (as were all the midfield and forwards). There is absolutely no reason why Ballack should play any better or worse when Lampard is in the team. Ballack didn't change positions from where he has been playing, the only difference was Lampard was in there instead of SWP. The main reason our midfield was poor was because Liverpool were all over us like a rash for the whole 90 minutes and we couldn't cope with it, especially Maka.

Oh well Good news is that they will be back for the Huddersfield game! (and the CC final too)

The american influence is starting to be felt Premier League matches to be played overseas

If Mikel is back then I would expect him to start. I think Frank is likely to be available too. So my starting line up would be: ------------Cech Belletti---Riccy---Alex----Bridge -----------Mikel ----Ballack-------Lamps Cole----------------Malouda ---------Anelka Subs: Carlo, Ferreira, Maka, SWP and Pizarro The key thing as always is to not concede the first goal. If we can score first then we should win.

Aren't you confusing him with Rooney?

I wouldn't want to be leaving Anelka out. How about: ---------Cech Belletti---JT-- Riccy----Bridge --------Ballack -----Essien------Lamps --------Joey ------Anelka ----------------Drogba

Cascarino won it In which case I withdraw my previous comment as I clearly know nothing

Once again, we fall in to the trap of writing a player off after next to no time. It is far too early to make that kind of judgement. Personally, I don't see that he has been quite as bad as some are suggesting. He is definitely not a speedy winger but then again we have one of those and he can't do anything with it once he gets past his man. He is good on the ball, but does sometimes dwell on it too long - a classic problem with players coming here from overseas. The one really big question mark I have with him is his heart. There are a number of occasions where he has lost the ball and has just let his man go with no effort to get back. That's just not acceptable and I'd hope that Grant would be making him aware of his responsibilities. I don't believe that you become french footballer of the year if you are useless, so I think a little patience is required. At least in the meantime he has made some positive contribution in the matches against Everton and Portsmouth.

Joe Cole to become the player he could be.

So there we have it!!! The reason for our continuing success is Mourinho. Straight from the horses mouth, so to speak. No more of this "Avram Grant has done well" rubbish. Do you hear me?

I worry about you sometimes Loz Was he really awful? I'd have said he did OK, not great but not bad. Until Ghana went down to 10 men I'd have said Essien was much quieter. He scored a great header but otherwise didn't seem to have much drive or much involvement in the game. For the last 30 minutes though he was immense playing both holding midfield and centre half at the same time. I'm quite happy to have Mikel back. If Ghana had lost I think Essien may well have been rather down and probably not much use to us next week anyway.

The basic format of how the new structure is working has been pretty well documented, not just in the tabloid press but also the broadsheets. I don't think there is a serious dispute that it isn't correct. Lofty's point is the more relevant, in as much as it really doesn't matter as long as it's working - which you'd have to concede that it is as far as results go - and for me that's the most important thing.

It's fairly unlikely that Bridge will play right back and Belletti left back

Sounds like we have an understudy for Joey Edit: aaagh! I should read the whole thread before I post I can't believe I said the same as Moos (No offence )

Liar!

Just Anelka's header - I'll revise my comment to say that he headed down in to the ground but straight in the direction of the keeper! I was suggesting that he might have been better to try and head it to one side or the other - irrespective of whether he headed it downwards or not. Basically, it hit Hahnemann. SWP chances - I'll bow to your judgement on the second as I still haven't seen it back on TV, but I can't see that he had time to go around him on the first. He just managed to nip in ahead of the defender and could easily have gone down. Instead he stayed on his feet and by the time he was able to poke the ball goalwards Hahnemann was right on top of him. Overall it wasn't his best game though. Agreed that Alex was fortunate in the current climate to escape at least a booking, but whatever Dean's fault's were last night he certainly wasn't card happy. How Cisse escaped a booking for bringing down SWP in the first few minutes I'll never know!

Pretty big and important exceptions. Even a draw in each of those matches would see us level at the top. MUCH better? I don't buy that. We also need to watch we don't slip in to the "Arsenal Trap' of passing it around prettily without actually shooting - see last nights match for some examples. We will be just a despised under Grant if we win things. It's just a bit quiet at the moment whilst the press focus on Man U and Arsenal. Anyway, I like picking up the papers and reading about Chelsea. Much better than having to read about Man U, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool!

Sorry. I wasn't suggesting that a bid wasn't made but just that it was disappointing that it came to nothing and that we never found out who the bid was for.

It's all happening today....not! Anyone else, like me, disappointed by the January transfer activity? Not for us specifically but just in general. The most exciting part was the build up in December with all sorts of exciting names being bandied about. And of course, Star's legendary post about our Barcelona bid which unfortunately disappeared up it's own arse

Mikel for me, but Essien will do.

It's the North End. I don't know if that's the same end as for the FA Cup or not. I got my tickets yesterday, but it's going to be a fun day getting there as I'm flying back from holiday on the sunday, arriving back at Gatwick at 12. Should make it OK as long as the flight isn't delayed!

I went for Alex too. I really like this guy. He dominates in the air, is pretty quick for a big man and is comfortable on the ball. I never thought I would say this, but I really don't think we are missing JT too much at the moment Just, SWP's first chance was a great save from the keeper. I really don't think SWP could have done much more. The second one I haven't seen back yet but at the time I thought it was another good save. The big miss last night was Anelka. He had a completely free header and hit it straight at the keeper. Ballack had a good first half but faded quite a lot in the second.

An entertaining match but ultimately very frustrating. Player Ratings: Cech - 7 - no direct shots to save but was very decisive on balls coming in to his area and a brave dive at Lita's feet. Ferreira - 7 - had his own fan club in the west lower, and he didn't let them down. not as dynamic as Belletti but got forward well, defended well and put in a peach of a cross for Ballack's goal. It is amazing how much more dangerous a ball from right on the byline is. Alex - 7.5 - another dominant performance. He is not as good as JT at his very best, but he's as close as your gonna get. Carvalho - 7.5 - brought the ball out of defence, particularly in the first half. A great combination with Alex. Bridge - 6.5 - Solid but not at his marauding best. Maka - 7 - Played well and showed good skills on the ball too. But this was the sort of game were we missed having Mikel in that role. Reading posed very little threat and we needed someone who could do more with the ball than Maka. Ballack - 7- Started well. Took his goal well. Faded in the second half. SWP - 7 - Clearly happier in the inside right role. Was tidy and got in to some good positions. I wouldn't be too harsh on him for the chances he missed. The keeper did very well on both. Malouda - 6.5 - I'm not as down on him as some, but he needs to pick up the pace and physicality of the PL quicker. He is good on the ball and quite tricky but there is a lot more to come from him. Cole - 7 - I'd really like to throttle Joe He has so much skill and potential but is so frustrating. No complaints about his work rate or tracking back but he really needs to keep it more simple. Every time he drags the ball back another three opposition players get behind the ball. Anelka - 7- His ball retention is terrific. He is very skillful. He won a lot of balls in the air. His link up play was great. BUT, he spent far too much time coming very deep and not enough time in the area and he turned down a number of good shooting opportunities which he should have taken. The header straight at the keeper WAS a bad miss for a player of his class. We definitely looked a little tired in the second half. Ghana play Nigeria at the weekend so will get either Mikel or Essien back for the match against Liverpool which is good news. I can't see Ivory Coast losing in the quarters so we will have to wait longer for Drogba and Kalou.